RenewableEnergyResources in Oman Solar thermal plant Fig. 5.13 shows a typical learning curve for CSP solar thermal power plants in Euro per kWh, Ref /17/. Today the levelized cost is about 0.15 Euro per kWh corresponding to about 210 USD per MWh. Fig. 5.13 Learning curve for expected levelized cost of solar thermal power. Cost in Euro per kWh. Ref /18/. • Typical installation cost 2500 to 6000 USD/kW • Current energy cost 0.12 to 0.34 USD/kWh • Future energy cost, down to 0.04 USD/kWh At present the levelized cost of CSP power varies from 120 to about 210 USD per MWh for a location like Oman. The low cost is for combined plants where most of the power is by gas and the high cost for those with solar only. As it appears from the above learning curve a significant cost reduction is expected over the coming decade, bringing the cost down to well below 100 USD per MWh. Solar heating collectors Solar thermal energy, solar collectors for heating of water, is a fairly developed technology. At present China is developing the production capacity for the vacuum collectors rapidly and has established effective production lines. But solar thermal collectors are still not mass produced in the same way as consumer goods and there is still space for large cost reductions. • Typical installation cost 300 to 1700 USD/kW • Current energy cost 0.02 to 0.25 USD/kWh (Oman in the low end) • Future energy cost 0.02 to 0.01 USD/kWh It is important to notice that already today the cost of producing heat by solar is much lower than the cost of producing electricity and use this for heating of water. Page 81 of 134 .